Method of treating wheat.



0. M @L s. E. FRIEND.. METHOD oF TREATNG WHEAT. APPLICATION FILED J`UNE 29. 19H.

1,136,597 'l a Panentedpr. 2o, 1915.

of treating wheat, to prepare the 'same-for cular in cross section, and having perpengrinding, according to Iwhich, in a continudicular side members 2 which supporta top 65 ous operation, the wheat is washed, temor. cover 3, preferably made in two parts, as pered, heated. and hulled. shown.

Prior to our invention, machines, or ap- The numerals 4 indicate the ends of the paratus, have been used for washing, hullcasingto each of which is secured a casting ing, (-z'. e. removing the outer coating or beeaffording a bearing 6 and a standard on 70 wing), tempering and heating the wheat, Which the machineis supported. The ends but so far as we are aware, these operations 4: are centrally lapertured concentrically have been carried out separately, and by with the bottom portion of the. casing, and

the use of separate apparatus in each case. projecting through these apertures, and into Thus, in the ordi'narg7 practice of milling the bewaring 6 is a shaft 8,7which extends "75 wheat, the wheat iscleaned by theuse f of longitudinally through the casing. Fixedly Wheat,- cleanjng machines; it' is then' .washed secured at the center of this sh'aft is a force and-placed in bins or tanks, where it is alfeed device inthe form oft., a double.auger 9,

lowed to temper; and finally, if the weather which is concentric with the semicircular is very cold, or the wheat be frosted, it'may bottom portion, and is adapted to rotate at a 80` be heated. A -distance of about one-half an inch therefrom.

Bymeansrof our invention, the operations Moynted on theside walls 2 is a partition aof washing, tempering ormoistening, heat- 10 which 'is provlded with afsemicircular `ing and hulling wheat are, or may be, perv ,recess to surround the auger, so as to proformed in a `continuous operation, and by vide, with the bottom portion of the casing,;85

theuse of a single machine, no larger than a circular space in which said auger'rotates, an ordinary wheat cleaning machine, thereand which, with said auger, serves to divide :byeflecting a great economy, both in time the casing into two chambers, one of which,

and .in cost of apparatus. Furthermore, we at the yright of the auger, vas shown in Fig.

,have found that in the treatment of wheat, 1, and indicated by the numeral 11, we term 90 according to this method, it is not only efthe agitating chamber, and the otherl of fe'ctively and rapidly tempered or moiswhich, to the left of the auger, and indi\V tened and, if desired, heated, but it is' more cated by the numeral 12, we term .the hull- 40 thoroughly cleaned and hulled than by any-VV in chamber. v

other system or method ofv treatment known ounted on the shaft 8 in the chamber 95 to us. l1 are a series of- S-shaped agitators 13,

In order thatI the practice of our method which are arranged from right to left in a may be thoroughly understood, Vwe have progressively advanced relatlon to each illustrated in the accompanying drawing, other about the' shaft, Vand are designed to the machineV now usedA by us for practising `be rotated with their convex slde foremost. 100 it; this machine, however,l forms no part of Similarly mounted on 'thefshaft 8 in V)the the present invention, butfformsf the subject chamber 12 are a series` of 'agitators`1 4. matter of a separate application for patent. which are similar in all respects to the agi- ,50 In'the accompanying drawingigure tators 13. Both sets ofy agitators have their UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

ORLANDO M. FRIEND .AND SAMUEL E. FRIEND, OF HANNIBAL, MISSOURI.

.METHOD OF TRETING WHEAT.

'Specipation off Letters Patent.

` Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

Applicationledliine 29,1914. y Serial No. 847,934.

T0 all whom z't-may concern:

Be it known that we, .ORLANDO and SAMUEL E. FRIEND, citizens of the United States, residing in Hannibal, in-the county of Marion lfand State of- Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of Treating Wheat, of which the following is a specifications,

Our invention relates to a novel method 1- is a view partly in longitudinalsection and partly in elevation,showing a machine .embodying our invention; Fig. 2:is`a cross sectional view thereof, on the lines 2-2 and 2*#-` Lof Fig. 1; Fig. 3"i\s"-a ,cross section on 55 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the end portion lof one of the agitator arms.

Referring now to. theseidrawingus,vthe numera'l Iindicates the casing of the machine, which 1n practice is about four feet in length, the bottom portion being semicirouter kor convex face Y. forwardly-inclined, 1x05` that is, inclined toward the left-hand end ofthe machine, as indicated more clearly at 15 in Fig. 5, so as to impart a sllght forward movement to the grain as it is agitated. In addition, the outer portion of each convex face of the agitators is provided with a series of transverse ribs 16 to provide a more severe frictional action on, or rubbing of, thev grain, than occurs with a perfectly smooth surface, as contemplated in our prlor Inav chlne referred to.

' iixedly secured to one end thereof, and provided with a cup jecting rearwardly therefrom, slidably and adjustably mounted on which is a Weight 23. By adjusting this weight on the arm 22, the Weight of grain necessary to maintain theV valve 21 in an open position may be varied, thus tending to regulate the feed of the grain, While the valve will tend to automatically close as the maXimuin How of grain permitted by the adjustment decreases. This automatic action of the -valve, in conjunction with the spring hereinafter referred to, is utilized in controlling the admission of water and of steam to the grain through the mechanism now to be described. Mounted on the cover 3, and extending therethrough to communicate with the interior of the casing, is a pipe 24, which is pro- The numeral 26 indicates a water pipe communicating with any suitable source of supply and having a depending end portion 27 terminating above the cup 25, and provided with a valve 28 which may be turned to various positions to regulate the maxi mum amount of Water which may pass into "the cup 25, and thence into the easing. By having the water flow into thecup 25in the manner described, the attendant is able to ascertain by observation whether the water 1s running, and also, in a general way, the amount of water being supplied to, the wheat. v

The numeral 29 indicates a steam pipe communicating with any suitable source of supply, and having a vertically-disposed portion 30 provided with a valve casing 3'1" in which is mounted a valve 32. (lonnected with the pipe 30 is a' horizontal extension 33 an-endportion' which communicates'with the interior of the casing 1 in the/'chamber 11 at a point considerably nearer the center water pipe 24 enters saidcasing. The water pipe 27 is alsoprovided with a valvecasing '36 in which' is -mounted a valve, (not valve 32.

provided with a hand valve 23, fand having shown) and Which is preferably of the type known as a gate valve. Secured to one end v of the stem 37 of this valve is an arm 38, the .outer end of which is pivotally connected to one end of a link 39, the opposite end'of which is pivotally connected to one end of a lever 40, which is pivotally mounted at 41 intermediate its ends on the side wall of the casing 1.8. The lower end of the lever 40 is provided Witha series of apertures 42 in one or the other of which is connected, by a suitable pin, one end of a connecting rod 43, the opposite end of which is provided with a series of apertures 44, in

one or the other of which is connected, by a outer end of a crank arm 48, the .lower end of'which 'is connected tothe stem of the From the construction described, it will be seenthat as the valve 21 is moved downward by the weight of the grain, such movement, thrdugh `the lever mechanism above described, will open the valves of the water and steam pipes, and as the iow of grain ceases, and 'the valve 21 rises, the op posite movement of these parts occasioned thereby, will close these valves and stop the fiow of=water and-steam. It is desirable to start and stop the flow of water .practically co-incident with the flow or cessation of flow of the grain, and this we attain by having the connecting rod operating the crank arm ofthe water valve connected to the outer end of the lever 40, whlch, of course, has a greater arc of movement Aand moves faster than any part of the lever nearer the ing up and down, as frequently occurs whenv only the Weight 23 is employed, the spring exerting a uniform tension, while the resistance of `the weight decreases as the'valve opens wlder and 'increases as the valve moves upward.

Extending through the horizontal casing 19 and "'journaled in bearingsv 49 at 'opposite ends thereof is a Shaft 50 on which is mountofthe grain, -.and` at the same time to hull. the grain, the Wheat is neXt forced, b auger 9, into the chamber 12, where, due to t e coned within the casing 19 a worm conveyer 51.. The upper side of the casing is provided with an opening 52 to which will be connected a spout, trough, or other suitable conveying means for feeding the wheat into lthe ,casing The lower side of the casing 19 is provided near one end with an outlet opening 53 which communicates with the casing 18 through the top thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. The outer end of the shaft'50 isprovided with a sprocket wheel 54, and a.

similan sprocket wheel 55 is mounted on a projecting end' of the shaft 8, and over these sprocket wheels is passed a sprocket chain 561 The shaft 8 has also secured to its opposite end a pulley 57 by means of which itis rotated through the medium of a belt (not tained under pressure.

The Casin 19, with its worm conveyer 51,

provides a eed control device, enabling usey to stop the flow of grain simultaneously and automatically with the stopping of rotation 'of the shaft 8, and then the worm conveyer not only ceases to force Ithe grain into the casing 18, but it acts asa closure to the opening 53, to prevent the flow of the grain by gravity into said casing.

In practising our invention, the wheat, be-

said chamber is simultaneously supplied with the requisite amount of water to temper the wheat, While at the same time the wheat is subjected to continuous agitation,

due to the action of arms 13, this treatment serving to insure that the moisture shall reach, or be distributed thoroughly through and over all of the grain, While 'the fric-1 tional contactk of ther` arms with the wheat, though relatively gentle, is sulicient to loosen up the outer coating. rlhecombined action of the water and agitation will, at the same time resultx in the thorough washing of the grain. In order to facilitate the more ready access of the moisture to the interior struction described, it is maintained under a regulated-pressure, while subjected-to agita- Y tion and frictionalfcontact with the arms 14,

and at the same time the grains are forced,-

to rub against each other, the net result being the-thorough removal from the grain of' all adhering dirt, as well as the outer hull particles, which have been previously loosened by treatment in chamber 11. Wheat in its natural condition, does not readily absorb moisture, such action being,

to' a large extent, prevented by the outer hull. By the removal of this'liull, as above described, the grain Ais in a condition to readily `absorb moisture, and such absorp.-

tion occurs in the chamber 12 more readily i and with greater uniformity than with any other system of tempering or moistening wheat known to us. It will be understood that by first loosening the outer hull, by the combined action of moisture and agitation in chamber 1`1, we place the wheat in condition not only to have the outer hull readily removed by the frictional action to which it is subjected in chamber,12,-but as the moisture has been thoroughly disseminated throughout the whole 'body of `,the grain, each kernel of grain is in condition to at once absorb moisture as its outer hull'particles areremoved to expose the more absorbent part of the grain covered by the hull. Simultaneously withv the inflow of water tothe chamber. 11, steamhlay be admitted through the pipe. 35, toheat the grain, and this heating' byk producing a slight expansion of thek grain, and thereby opening the pores therof,likewise facilitates entrance of moisture 'to fthe grain.y

The heating of the wheat may be to any desired degree the temperature being regulated by the amount of steam supplied to the chamberkll, and such heating having the same/'beneficial effect, when conditions. callkfor its use, as the heating of wheat as now practised.

y K- We desire to emphasize the advantage and ing fed into the chamber 11 in loose bulk,

economy in heating the wheatl according to, the present method. In the dry heating of wheat, as new commonly practised, a very' considerable amountof moisture is` expelledl from the "wheat, and although the Wheat may be lsubsequently thoroughly Washed and moistened, this loss of moisture' can never be totallyrestored. There is always therefore, what is known as an invisible loss in theemployment of ,such system of heating wheat.

According to ourinvention Wet steam is suppliedto the'grain, while the grain itself is moist, with the result that not only is the wheat heated, but this is accomplished with an actual ain in'moisture in the wheat, infstead of a4 oss.

After the wheat ypasses through our machine, it is conveyed to tempering tanks. of the usual construction, andpis then passed through cleaning machines, such as are com- Will be thoroughly chine,"of our construction, but Withoutl the use of Water or steam, in which the Wheat cleaned, as described. In actual operation, we have found that Wheat treated according to our invention, will have the outer husk and adhering dirt, including whiskers and smut, thoroughly removed therefrom, and after this refuse matter has been separated from the Wheat in the Well-known way, the latter Will be in van ideal condition for the subsequent milling operation. v

By referring in the specification andl claims to agitating the grain in bulk .or in loose bulk, We refer to acting upon the body of grain in mass, so that, in the agitation .of the grain not onlyisthe grain continuously subjectedto mechanical rubbing by the passage of' the agitator arms through the mass of'grain, but the grains themselves are caused to rub against each other. We claim,

l. The 'method of treating Wheat, Which consists in subjecting the same, in bulk, to

. the concurrent action of moisture and frictional agitation and continuously decorti-` eating the Wheat thus treated. i

2. The method of treatingxwheat, Which consists in subjecting the same, in bulk,- to the concurrent action of moisture and attrition and continuously decorticatinglr the Wheat thus treated.

8. The herein described method, which consists in frictionally agitating fheated' v,moistened Wheat and continuously dec'orti-l eating the Wheat thus treated.

4. The herein' described method, which consists in frictionally agitating in bulk,

inoistenedy Wheat, .and simultaneously heating the same and thereupon, and in a con-A tinuous operation, decorticating the Wheat thus treated. i

5. The method of treating Wheat, which consists in subjecting thesame in'bulk; to the concurrent actions of frictional 'agitation, moisture and heat and-thereupon, and t decorticating the in a continuous operation, 'wheat thus treated.

G. The method of treating Wheat, Which consists insubjecting the same in bulk, in a closed receptacle, to the concurrent actions of frictional agitation, moisture'and steam and thereupon, and in a continuous operation, decorticating the Wheat thus treated.

7. The method of 4treating Wheat, Which consists in frictionally agitating'the samein loose bulk While supplying water thereto, and continuously .forcing Vthe Wheat thus polished. It l is then A 14., The method of treating Wheat consists in moistening Wheat in bulk and' at thesame time mechanicallyloosening the t treated into a closed; chamber, and therein Africtionally agitating .the same, While main- Water thereto, for the purpose of Washing and moistening the grain, and then subjecting the Wheat in bulk, under pressure to further frictional agitation, to clean the wheat.

10. The method of treating Wheat, :Which -consists in fdric'tionally` agitating the Wheat in loose bulk and simultaneously admitting Water and steam thereto, for the purposeof washing, tempering and-heating the Wheat,

and subsequently in a continuous operation' frictionally agitating the Wheat in bulk, under pressure, to clean it. v

l1. The method of treating' Wheat, Which consists in subjecting'the Wheat in loose bulk to the action of mechanical agitators While supplying Water thereto, and then in a continuous operation subjecting the Wheat,

in bulk and under pressure, to the further action of mechanical agitators.

12. Themethod of treating Wheat, which consists in acting on the grain in loose bulk to loosen the outer fibrous coating thereof,

While at the same time supplying moistureand heat thereto, and continuously decorti-` eating the grain thus treated.

13. The method of treating Wheat Which consists in subjecting heated moistened Wheat in bulk to pressure and attrition. V

outer fibrous coating thereof, and then continuous'ly subjecting the Wheat thus treated and in bulk tothe action of pressure and attrition.

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing Witnesses. j

ORLANDO M. FRIEND. t y SAMUEL E. FRIEND.y llVitnessesg:4 I

' C. R. MAI-IAN,

HUGH HARRIS.

which 

